Hello Second Trimester : 13 weeks

It is hard to believe I am on to my second trimester!  The first month of this pregnancy went so slow but as time goes on it seems to be going faster and faster!  After having my second doctors appointment earlier this week we were told that we should be able to find out the gender of our little peanut sometime around New Years!  Nick and I are both very excited to find out what baby Gehrts is going to be, as long as he/she is healthy we will be happy with either a boy or a girl.  Once we find out, I'm sure I will be ready to get that nursery going :) 

I think I had my first experience of "pregnancy brain" this week.  After reading all about it, I was still skeptical and didn't believe it would happen to me..yea right!  I had to fill out some insurance paper work before my appointment on Monday so I had called our health insurance to get some questions answered.  The lady asked me to verify my address and phone number so she could be sure it was me that she was talking to.  I quickly drew a blank and had NO IDEA what my address was!!!  I stalled by giving her my phone number hoping it would give my mind a minute to come up with our address.  It finally came to me but once I told her I honestly was not sure if it was even correct!  If this is what is to come the next 7 months, I am in trouble!!!!! 

Other than our appointment this week and hitting 13 weeks, there is not much more to report.  Oh yea, except I am REALLY looking forward to Thanksgiving this year, not just for the warm weather out west but anything involving food these days, is such an excitement! :)

We have a heartbeat!!

Monday I had my second doctors appointment, it was supposed to just be an appointment with the nurse practitioner to discuss Nick and I's family medical history.  It was also supposed to be an educational appointment, just learning about the Dos and Don'ts of pregnancy. After we went through all of the medical history she told me that I have a zero risk pregnancy and there is nothing to be worried about!  I was very relieved to hear that.  At the end of the appointment the nurse practitioner told me she was going to try and hear baby's heartbeat.  She told me that around 12 weeks is when we should be able to hear it on a doppler.  A doppler is something they use to listen to the heartbeat, its just a little handheld machine that is used on my stomach to listen to the baby.  She told me not to worry if we can't find because it is still early.  After a quick wave of the doppler across my belly there it was, the little pitter patter of baby!  It was like nothing I have ever heard before.  It kind of sounded like a washing machine, it was going so fast!  Baby's heart rate was 159 bpm.  Nick wasn't able to be at my appointment with me because of school so I was really disappointed he missed this amazing moment!  I have another appointment on December 15, and Nick will be able to make that one so she said we could listen again when he comes with me! 

I have been starting to feel a lot better in the last couple of days!  I still feel a little sick here and there and have headaches about everyday but my energy is definitely coming back! I have made it back to the gym two times!  I had not been to the gym since I found out I was pregnant, the most I had energy for was taking Miss Bella on walks! 

Week 12

Today we finally decided to take my first baby bump photo.  There's not much to see but if you look closely..there is little bump there!  I am going to try and put up a new bump picture every week so I can keep track of the progress!

It is hard to believe I am already on  week twelve of my pregnancy.  It has gone slow and fast all at the same time.  I am finally starting to come out of the first trimester "hibernation" period as I like to call it.  For the first two months it seems like all I was doing was working, eating and sleeping.  I would come home from work and take at least an hour nap, then eat dinner with Nick then go to bed for the night!  I have graduated from taking naps after work to only going to bed at 7:30 or 8..hey, its progress!  I have been pretty lucky with morning sickness, it hasn't been too bad.  It seems like I felt the worst at night which worked out well so I wasn't miserable at work.  The only part of pregnancy I am struggling with is the weight gain.  I have gained just enough weight that my clothes are no longer comfortable nor do they fit like they used to!  I just keep telling myself it is worth it for what the outcome in the end will be.  I have bought a couple pieces of maternity clothes and my sister Angie, bought me a couple shirts as well.  The maternity jeans are like heaven, it is just like wearing sweat pants every day to work!

And baby makes 4!!

It has been quite the year for Nick and I, so many exciting things have happened.  First, we got married in the Dominican Republic, then we moved into our new house, got our puppy, Bella, and now..we're expecting a BABY! Nick and I were extremely shocked to find out that I was pregnant after not too long of trying.  Let me catch you up on what has been happening the past 12 weeks..

Nick did not believe me that I was pregnant until I took a digital pregnancy test one morning and sure enough..it came up "Pregnant".  We first shared our big news with our parents and our siblings.  Everyone was so excited for us but in disbelief.  After telling my mom and dad, my mom thought it was a joke, but I assured her, this was no joke and baby Gehrts was on his/her way! Nick's parents were also a little shocked I think, but both were so happy for us! We didn't want to share our news with anyone else until after my firstdoctors appointment which wasn't for another month.  It was killing my dad not being able to tell anyone but he made it through the month without spilling the beans!  After my first doctors appointment we felt comfortable letting the rest of our extended family and friends know our exciting news. Baby Gehrts is due May 28, 2011 and we are anxiously waiting his/her arrival!

I decided to start this blog in order to keep everyone updated with my pregnancy and with everything that is going on!  Between Nick and I's family and friends we pretty much have people all over the country so I thought this would be a great way to keep everyone in the loop!  I hope you all enjoy it :)

Here is a picture from the night we told the rest of our extended family and friends in Ohio!